Report Reveals How Tinubu By-Passed Senate, House Of Reps And Bought New Jets Without Approval

The National Assembly did not approve the procurement of a new presidential jet for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Although issues concerning the presidential jet has been a subject of secrecy but the information that it was not approved by the National Assembly is according to findings by Daily Trust.

In late June, an online news platform reported that the Nigerian government had acquired an Airbus A330 aircraft from a German bank. This aircraft was reportedly seized by the bank from an unnamed Arabian prince and businessman who failed to repay a substantial debt, Premium Times reports. The Presidency has remained silent on the matter, with no official statement released.

The exact cost of the aircraft is still unknown. Earlier reports suggested the government was negotiating to buy it for $100 million, but the final price remains unconfirmed.

During a plenary session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio had stated that the request for purchasing the aircraft had not been presented to the parliament. He assured that once it is, the Senate would consider and approve it, emphasizing the importance of such decisions for the benefit of the Nigerian people.

Akpabio also addressed claims of blackmail against the National Assembly, referencing past incidents where defective planes led to the deaths of foreign leaders. He asserted that the Senate would responsibly handle any future requests related to the aircraft.

He said, “But I can tell you that when you hear stories such as the death of the vice president of Malawi as a result of a defective plane, and then the death of the president of Iran as a result of defective aircraft; we shouldn’t ever sit and allow such to be at the ocean. It wouldn’t be.

“The Senate is very responsible. The National Assembly is very responsible. We will look into issues that will benefit the governance of the country.

“Irrespective of anticipatory blackmail, because those people know very well that something like that might come in the future; and if it’s a necessity, the Senate will look into it.

“But there is nothing like that before us now”

The report cited above also stated that lawmakers admitted that they did not approve the private jet. Some of them who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that they were even surprised to hear that the jets had been purchased when they did not approve such procurement that gulped huge amount of money.